By Yankuba Jallow
Banjul City Council CEO has appeared before the Ombudsman after the latter issued an arrest warrant against him.
Mr Mustapha Bachilly was required by the Ombudsman to appear before him in connection with a number of complaints which were delayed as a result of his continuous failure to cooperate in the investigation of those complaints.
A summons was sent to him, but he failed to appear, therefore it became necessary for the Ombudsman to issue a warrant to the Inspector General Police (IGP) to effect his arrest and bring him to the Office of the Ombudsman on Monday, 25 January 2021. However, having received information of the issuance of the warrant, he reported to the Ombudsman before the arrest was affected.
Director of communication Juma K. Camara said the main purpose of CEO Batchilly’s summons was on the dismissal and gratuity complaints by a dozen of staff.
Camara said as far as he knows, this is the first time the Ombudsman has issued an arrest warrant since the establishment of the office.
“The Office of the Ombudsman has enjoyed the cooperation of senior public officers in responding to complaints leveled against their respective institutions; however, it is unfortunate that in this instance it had to reach to the issuance of an arrest warrant,” Camara said.
Camara said the Office of the Ombudsman has the mandate to dispense administrative justice and all public officers are urged to support in the conduct of speedy and impartial investigation of all complaints lodged with the office.
“Unnecessary delay of cases will not be entertained. The Ombudsman is here for all members of the public and will continue to execute its mandate undeterred” Camara said.
CEO Batchilly told Foroyaa that some staff of his institution lodged complaint against him.
He said: “I was sick and at one point I was out of the country, and when I came back, incidentally I saw the summons and I decided to go there. I have invited them (Ombudsman) to come over and we discuss-We are ready to resolve the problem.”
